The game of the day saw Munster defeat Leinster by 1-16 to 1-13 at Parnell Park.

Gary Hurney and Cahir Healy got the first-half goals at either end as the visitors led by six points at the break, 1-10 to 1-4.

There were seven men from All-Ireland champions Dublin in Sean Boylan's Leinster starting XV, which saw four changes before throw-in.

Surprisingly, rampant Munster led by 1-4 to no score after twelve minutes. Dominant in the middle third, the southerners were ahead within 30 seconds when Clare's David Turbridy popped one over.

Paddy Kelly added another and the impressive Turbridy floated over a free before Waterford full forward Gary Hurney slid the ball low past Stephen Cluxton to the net.

Tomas O Se added a fourth point for the flying visitors. Turbridy brought his tally to 0-4 and Leinster could only muster a couple of Bernard Brogan frees as they trailed by 1-8 to 0-2.

But Laois wing back Cahir Healy tapped home a goal to give Leinster hope - their first score from play arriving after 28 minutes. Louth's Paddy Keenan booted over a trademark point to close the gap to five points, 1-8 to 1-3.

Diarmuid Connolly pointed and also missed a goal chance - which would have closed the gap to one point - before Cork's Paudie Kissane and Limerick's Ian Ryan made it 1-10 to 1-4 at half time.

Leinster stuck four points in the first five minutes of the second half, Bernard Brogan and Paddy Keenan on target with a brace apiece as the margin was pared down to just two, 1-10 to 1-8.

The revival was snuffed out, however, when Abbeyside's Hurney (2), corner back Stephen Lavin, his Limerick team-mate Ryan and Cork's Mark Collins clipped over five in a row for Munster to make it 1-15 to 1-8.

Bernard Brogan and Cluxton frees closed the gap to five with ten minutes left.

Leinster again came with five successive points - Wee County captain Keenan ended the day with five from play - but Munster - fielding seven Division Four players including a Clare / Waterford / Limerick full-forward line that yielded 1-10 - held out, with Turbridy (0-6) hitting the last score.

Munster - A Quirke; A O'Mahony, J McCarthy, S Lavin (0-1); T Ó Sé (0-1), G Canty, P Kissane (0-1); G Brennan, S Scanlon; P Kelly(0-1), P Kerrigan, J Cooke (0-1); D Tubridy (0-6), G Hurney (1-2), I Ryan (0-2). Subs: M Collins (0-1) for Kerrigan, S Briggs for Cooke.

Leinster - S Cluxton (0-1); C Healy (1-0); G Molloy, S McAnarney; E Bolton, K Reilly, B Quigley; MD Macauley, P Keenan (0-5); D Connolly (0-1), A Brogan, L Glynn; B Brogan (0-6); M Conway, K McManamon. Subs: K Nolan for Bolton, K Lillis for Conway, B Murphy for Macauley, J Doyle for McManamon, S McCormack for Glynn.

Ref - M Higgins (Fermanagh). Tweet

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